See How Much La Jolla Has Changed — and Stayed the Same — in 60 Years
A new local news profile has examined how much La Jolla has changed since the 1960s — but also how much “the jewel” of San Diego has stayed the same.
The five-minute news report, titled “La Jolla Then & Now,” takes a dive into the city’s recent history. According to CBS 8 San Diego, the city is still known for being a compelling mix of new and old.
For example, local historian Carol Olten, who moved to La Jolla in 1965, says that the opening of UC San Diego during the decade changed the neighborhood for the better.
“With the coming of the university — I mean we got all the intellectual people, the Town and Gown people and that changed the community and changed the community for the better,” Olten said.
Of course, the opening of the university came with downsides, including traffic. An archived news clip shows that traffic congestion in the area has been bad for decades.
The clip also takes viewers on a journey across some local landmarks, including the Windansea shack, which was built by surfers in 1946 and is now an official historical landmark, and Harry’s Coffee Shop, which has been in the same location for at least six decades.
Although many thing haven’t changed about the crown jewel of San Diego, some things have, such as the price of real estate. The news report interviewed a local realtor who sold an ocean-view lot for $380,000 in 1979. More than 40 years later, half of that lot sold for $5.1 million.
The realtor, Maxine Gellens, said that the housing market is so hot because La Jolla has everything a buyer would want.
“I don’t have to go out of La Jolla to do anything. Whether it be my hair, groceries, doctor, dentist, everything is here… and the view!” she said.
About the author: Mike Peterson is a freelance journalist and writer based in North San Diego County. He’s written and worked for a number of local media outlets, including the San Diego Union-Tribune, the North Coast Current, and the Oceanside Blade.
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